How to clean a washing machine, the drum, the drawer and the door seal

A washing machine is supposed to clean the laundry, but it can end up holding the dirt it removes. Detergent and fabric softener build up inside the drum, lint and hair gather in the drawer and the filter, and a front loader’s rubber door seal traps water and grime in its folds. The result is a musty smell that gets into the clean clothes, and dark spots on the seal that spread if they are left. A monthly clean and a few minutes of wiping keep the machine working well and the laundry smelling of nothing at all.

Work through the parts in order. The door seal, the drawer, the filter and the drum are the ones most likely to need attention, and the cleaning cycle covers the inside of the machine last.

What you need

• Rubber gloves
• A microfiber cloth and an old toothbrush
• Warm water and a little dish soap
• A washing machine cleaner, or white vinegar, used as the manual allows
• A shallow tray and a towel, for the drain filter
• A small brush or a cotton swab for the drawer

Cleaning the detergent drawer

The drawer is where most of the build-up starts. Detergent and softener harden in the compartments, and the mixture grows mold in the damp corners.

1. Pull the drawer out fully. Most drawers lift out or release with a small tab at the back; check the manual if yours does not come out easily.
2. Rinse the drawer under warm water. Soak it in warm soapy water for a few minutes, then scrub the compartments with the brush, paying attention to the corners and the siphon, the small channel where the water flows through.
3. Clean the slot in the machine where the drawer sits. Wipe it with a cloth, and use the toothbrush to clear any residue from the sides.
4. Rinse the drawer again, dry it, and push it back in. Leave it slightly open between washes so it can dry.

Use only the amount of detergent the packet recommends, and use detergent made for your type of machine. Too much detergent leaves residue that feeds mold, and a high-efficiency machine needs a low-sudsing product.

Cleaning the door seal

A front loader’s door seal is a rubber gasket that holds water when the door is closed. It is the most common source of smell and mold in front loaders, because water and lint collect in the folds.

1. Open the door and pull the rubber seal back gently, so you can see the folds and the bottom edge.
2. Wipe the seal with a cloth dampened in warm soapy water, working into every fold. Pay particular attention to the bottom, where water pools.
3. Look for coins, hair ties, buttons and lint. Remove anything you find, and check the gap twice.
4. Dry the seal with a clean cloth, and leave the door open for a few hours after washing so the seal can dry out.

If you see black mold that does not wipe away, use a cloth with a little white vinegar or a dedicated mold cleaner made for rubber seals. Follow the label, rinse the seal well, and dry it. Mold that has eaten into the rubber is a sign that the seal needs replacing, which a repair technician or the maker can arrange.

Cleaning the drain filter

The drain filter catches coins, lint, hair and small items that have gone through the wash. A blocked filter slows the drain, causes the drum to hold water, and leaves a smell. Most front loaders have it at the bottom front, behind a small access door.

1. Turn the machine off and unplug it. Put the towel and the shallow tray in front of the access door.
2. Open the small door and slowly unscrew the filter cap, anticlockwise. Water will come out, so keep the tray underneath.
3. Once the water has drained, remove the filter and clean it. Pull out any lint, hair and small items, rinse it under warm water, and check the housing for debris.
4. Replace the filter, tighten the cap by hand, close the access door, and plug the machine back in.

Some top loaders have a filter too, although it may be less accessible. Check the manual if you cannot find it.

Cleaning the drum

The drum is where the clothes are washed, and it collects residue from detergent, softener and the minerals in hard water. A cleaning cycle loosens that residue and flushes it away.

1. Make sure the drum is empty, with no clothes or loose items inside.
2. Run a hot cycle with a washing machine cleaner, following the dose on the label, or with one to two cups of white vinegar. Do not add detergent or softener to the same cycle.
3. Let the cycle finish, then open the door and check the drum for residue. Wipe the inside with a cloth if you see any.
4. Leave the door open afterwards so the drum can dry.

Never use bleach and vinegar in the same cycle, and do not mix cleaning products in the drum. If you want to use bleach, follow the manual and use it alone, then run a rinse cycle.

Cleaning the top loader

The top loader needs a slightly different routine. Lift the lid and wipe the underside, the hinge and the seal around the edge of the drum. Remove the agitator if the manual says it can be lifted out, and clean the area beneath it, where lint and soap collect. Wipe the outside of the machine, the control panel and the lid with a damp cloth and mild soap.

Leave the lid open between washes so the drum can dry. A top loader that is always closed gathers damp air, and the smell comes quickly.

Cleaning the outside and the control panel

Wipe the outside of the machine with a damp cloth and a little dish soap, then dry it. Keep moisture out of the control panel, and use only a barely damp cloth around the buttons and the display. Clean the top, the sides and the front with the same cloth, and wipe up any spills of detergent immediately, because the residue dries hard.

The monthly routine

Once a month, go through this list.

• Clean the drawer and the slot it sits in.
• Wipe the door seal, and check for lint and coins.
• Empty and rinse the drain filter if it has not been cleaned in the past two or three months.
• Run a hot empty cycle with a cleaner or with vinegar.
• Wipe the outside and the control panel.

Between cleanings, leave the door and the drawer open after each wash, use the right amount of detergent, and move wet laundry to the dryer or the line within an hour. Wet clothes left in the drum overnight are the fastest way to bring a smell back.

Common mistakes

• Using too much detergent or softener. Both leave residue that feeds mold.
• Keeping the door shut between washes. A closed door traps damp air.
• Overloading the drum. Clothes that do not move freely are not properly rinsed, and the detergent residue stays behind.
• Skipping the drain filter. A blocked filter is one of the most common reasons for a poor spin and a machine that will not drain.
• Mixing cleaning products. Never combine bleach with vinegar, ammonia or any acid cleaner.

When to call a technician

If the machine will not drain even with a clean filter, if it leaks from the door or the base, if it makes a grinding or banging noise, or if you see water on the floor after a cycle, stop using it and call a qualified repairer. Those faults can come from the pump, the bearings, the water inlet or a cracked tub, and they need a technician, not a cleaner. Running a leaking machine can damage the floor beneath it and the wiring around it.